At age 19, the athletic Orchard Park man had his whole life ahead of him,.... a life he nearly lost on Memorial Day.

Peter dove into the shallow end of a pool, breaking his neck in three places, and injuring his spinal cord.

Left suddenly paralyzed, he has been hospitalized ever since.

But a couple of weeks ago, the ventilator that kept him alive for a month was removed and he has begun to regain feeling in most of his body, although he still can't move much of it below his shoulders.

Friends of the Brady family have been raising money through a website for people to donatefor the renovations of the family home needed to accommodate Peter upon his eventual return there, as well as the purchase of a wheel chair accessible van.

Funds are also sought to help Peter move to one of the nation's leading spinal care centers upon his release from ECMC, which is expected to occur in a month or so.

As well, donations of any amount can be made to the Peter Brady Healing Fund at any M&T Bank branch.

"I can't believe that so many people are helping," said an appreciative Brady from his hospital bed, in the Acute Rehabilitation Center at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC). "From the bottom of my heart I wish to thank them all."